USA > Pennsylvania > The twentieth century bench and bar of Pennsylvania, volume II > Part 86
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ture, and served until March 4, 1873. He occupied the position of a state printer from 1874 to 1877, and was delegate to the Demo- cratic national convention in 1864 and 1880. He has written much for the press in addi- tion to his editorial work on his own news- papers. In early life he was a contributor to some of the leading literary weeklies and monthilies, though most of his writings ap- peared under a nom de plume. He was mar- ried in 1854 to Miss Susan C. Koontz, of Somerset, a sister of Hon. Wm. II. Koontz.
Andrew J. Colborn was born in Turkey- foot township, Somerset county, Pa., May 30, 1822. His grandfather, Robert Colborn, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, was one of the number of persons who established the so-called Jersey settlement in that town- ship, perhaps the oldest settlement in the county. His father was Abraham Colborn and his mother Elcanor Woodmancy. He attended and taught in the public schools and was married April 14, 1845, to Susan Hartzel. He purchased his father's home- stead and carried on the occupation of farm- ing until 1849. He studied surveying; and there are very few, if any, of the townships of Somerset county in which he has not run the boundaries of many tracts of land. He was one of the engineers who helped lay out the Pittsburgh and Connellsville railroad in 1851. He was county surveyor from 1869 to 1875. In the examination of the titles by attorneys of the younger age, he was a co- pious source of information on questions of older conveyances and lines. IIe removed with his family to Somerset in 1854, and studied law with Col. John R. Edie ; and was admitted to the bar in 1855. He immediate- ly formed a law partnership with Hon. A. H. Coffroth, which continued for about five years. Afterwards he was associ- ated with attorneys William J. and Herman L. Baer, under the firm name of Baer, Baer & Colborn. Later he prac- ticed law with Judge F. M. Kimmell from
1863 to 1874, under the firm name of Kim- inell & Colborn. Judge Kinmell had short- ly before retired from the bench and taken up his residence at Chambersburg, Pa .; however, he returned to his old home at every term of court, and this firm became one of the leading law firms at the bar. Upon the admission of his son, Louis C. Colborn, they practiced law under the name of Col- born & Colborn to the time of the senior member's death; in fact the junior and sur- viving partner of this firm still conducts his business under the name of Colborn & Col- born.
Andrew J. Colborn was elected a major of militia in the early fifties, and was known by that title throughout his life. In his con- nection with the state militia he organized several companies for service in the Civil war. He was one of the board of school directors in his native township, at its first organization under the public school law. Ile was a notary public and United States commissioner, school director, and burgess at Somerset for many years. Was elected to the legislature in 1878, and served therein continuously until 1886. There he took rank as one of the leaders of the house; was chairman of the committee on ways and means, and of the judiciary general commit- tee. In 1896 he was elected district attorney and served his entire term; the vigor, thor- oughness and dispatch with which he dis- charged the duties of that office at his age, showed the remarkable vitality that charac- terized his career throughout. Among other important cases conducted by him during that term, were the prosecutions resulting in the conviction of the two Roddy brothers for the murder of David Berkey, and the conviction of Samuel Peter Meyers for the murder of Michael Kearney and John Len- hart.
Major Colborn was a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity and of the Masonic bodies, also of the Odd Fellows. He was a very de-
ANDREW J. COLBORN.
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voted and consistent member of the Chris- tian ehureh. Of his family of eight ehildren, two of his sons, Louis C. and Andrew J., Jr., were admitted to the bar at Somerset as is more fully mentioned elsewhere herein.
Mr. Colborn was a very fiery speaker. He had strong powers in seathing and stinging denuneiation of what he considered wrong. The weak point, or exhibition of improper aetion in his adversary's case, was sure to meet with an unsparing and withering at- taek.
Andrew Jackson Colborn, Jr., is a son of the elder member of the bar of the same name. He was born August 30, 1862, at the town of Somerset, attended the publie sehools here, and afterwards graduated from Beth- any college, West Virginia. He read law with his father, and was admitted to the bar here in 1885. In the year 1886 he removed to Seranton, Pa., where he continued his praetiee to the present time. He was mar- ried on January 22, 1902, to Miss May An- drews, of Springfield, Ohio. He was United States commissioner and elerk of the United States distriet eourt sinee about the year 1891. He has been state president and na- tional president of the Patriotie Sons of Ameriea, and is a member of the Masonie or- der of Knight Templars. "Young Jack," as he was familiarly known among his people at home, was gifted with the power of speech to an extraordinary extent. As a politieal orator and ready talker he is remarkably talented.
Edward B. Scull is the third son of Hon. Edward Seull, a former member of the bar, at Somerset. He attended the publie sehools at Somerset, and Elders Ridge academy. IIe read law in the office of Hon. William H. Koontz, and was admitted to the bar at Som- erset in 1877. He was captain of the local company of the state militia in the years 1877 and 1878, and was engaged for a num- ber of years in the office of his father, as eolleetor of Internal Revenues. He was also
one of the editors of the Somerset Herald during his residence and practice of Jaw at Somerset. He was married to Edmonia Cof- froth, daughter of Mr. George R. Coffroth of Baltimore, Md. Since his removal to Pittsburgh he has been continuously and sueeessfully occupied in his profession as an attorney at that bar.
Robert L. Stewart was born in Somerset borough, Somerset county, Pa., a son of Andrew Stewart, who was one of the treas- urers of this eounty. He read law with Hon. F. M. Kimmel, and was admitted to the bar at Somerset in 1847. He was elected pro- thonotary and elerk of the courts in 1848. After his term expired he remained here and practieed law for a few years, and then re- moved to the State of Ohio, where he died.
Hezekiah P. Hite was born at Stoystown, Somerset county, Pennsylvania. Ile was the son of Gen. John Ilite, who was the prin- eipal hotel keeper and largest man in that part of the county. Hezekiah P. Hite read law with Joshua F. Cox. He was admitted to the bar at Somerset in 1847. The students with him were John D. Roddy, Henry F. Sehell, and Joseph F. Loy, and all were admitted on the same day. Not long after he was admitted, and before he began prac- tieing law, he walked to his home, at Stoys- town, overheated himself, and died the same night from the effects of the exertion.
Henry F. Schell was born September 14, 1822, at Sehellsburg, Bedford county, Pa., his grandfather and father having been the founders of that town. His mother was Louisa Sehneider, of Somerset, who was a daughter of Jacob Schneider, one of the founders of our eonnty seat. Coming to Som- erset with his father when eighteen years of age, he was employed in the latter's general store for the first few years of his residence at Somerset. Henry Schell received a com- mon school education: and afterwards at- tended Windham academy. Ohio, and Beth- any college, West Virginia. Hle read law in
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the office of Judge Jeremiah S. Black; and was admitted to the bar at Somerset in 1847, where he remained until the time of his death. Hle formed a law partnership with William II. Postlethwait, Esq., that eontin- ned for several years. Later he was in part- nership with Hon. William HI. Koontz. This partnership was dissolved when Mr. Schell opened a private bank at Somerset, as suc- eessor to John T. Hogg, who established the first bank here. Miller Treadwell after- wards was associated with him in the bank- ing business; and later John O. Kimmell, Esq., of the Somerset bar. Later Mr. Schell retired from the banking business. He served as burgess and sehool director of Somerset borough. In 1879 he was elected prothonotary and clerk of the courts. Ile was a devout member of the Christian church at Somerset, and remained active in that body up to the time of his death, Sep- tember 10, 1903.
Lewis Lichty was born on what is known as the "Highland Farm," two or three miles north of the town of Somerset. Studied in the public schools and normal schools of his home. Read law with Hon. A. H. Coffroth. Was admitted to the bar at Somerset in 1855. Ile remained in Somerset practicing law for about nine years. Then he removed to Waterloo, Ia., in 1864. He has continued in the practice of the law to the present time and has met with excellent success. He has filled the office of city attorney and of mayor of that city for a number of terms.
Hon. Cyrus Elder was born in Somerset borough, Pennsylvania, June 16, 1833; edn- eated in the public schools of that town, he studied law in the office of Hon. William J. Baer, and was admitted to practice on June 13, 1856. As second lieutenant he joined the first company organized in Somerset eounty during the war of the rebellion-Company A, Tenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserve corps. Afterwards he was promoted to first
lieutenant and regimental quartermaster. He now resides in Johnstown, Pa. Appoint- ed by Governor Hoyt, he served as a member of the commission to revise the tax laws of the commonwealth. He has likewise attained prominence as a member of the Johnstown board of councilmen, secretary of the Indus- trial league, editor of the Industrial Bulletin and attorney for the Cambria Iron company.
Herman L. Baer, a brother of Hon. Wil- liam J. Baer, George F. Baer, Esq., and Henry G. Baer, Esq., deceased, was born at Berlin, Somerset county, Pa., March 20, 1828. These brothers were sons of Solomon Baer and wife, Anna Maria Baker. After attend- ing the publie sehools of the county and teaching three or four years therein, Herman L. Baer entered as a student at Mercersburg academy, and afterwards graduated from Franklin and Marshall eollege at Lancaster. Pa., in 1833, that being the first graduating elass of the United Franklin and Marshall colleges. He then accepted the principal- ship of Elwood institute, at Norristown, Pa. After two years' oeeupation there, he stud- ied law in the office of Baer & Benford, Esqs., at Somerset. He was admitted to the bar with three other students, at Somerset on June 13, 1865, and immediately formed a law partnership with his two brothers, William J. and Henry G. Baer, under the firm name of Baer Brothers. This partner- ship continued until Judge Baer's election to the beneh in 1881. The volume of business under its eare was very great; and in the class, character, and mumber of cases under its charge it was very suceessful to a high degree for all the years of its existence. Sinee the dissolution of that firm Mr. Baer has continued his praetice to the present time. For one year he has been and still is a member of the committee for the examina- tion of law students.
Henry G. Baer, a brother of William J., Herman L. and George F. Baer, was born in
H. L. BAER.
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Berlin, Somerset eounty, Pennsylvania, May 5, 1835. His literary studies were completed at Meadville, Pa. After studying law in the office of his brother, Judge William J. Baer, he was admitted to the bar with Cyrus Elder, Benjamin Stutzman and Herman L. Baer, June 13, 1856. In July, 1861, with his brother, George F. Baer, as an associate in business, he became part owner and editor of the Somerset Democrat. On September 3, 1861, he was commissioned second lieuten- ant of Company B, Fifty-fourth Regiment Pennsylvania volunteers, and with that com- mand served two years and six months. In 1863 the Messrs. Baer transferred their in- terests in the Democrat to Valentine Hay, Esq.
John O. Kimmel, a brother of ex-Judge Franeis M. Kimmel, was born in the town of Berlin, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, No- vember 20, 1814. He was educated in the common schools of the county. In 1842 he was elected county register and reeorder and clerk of the Orphans' court for a term of three years. Twelve years later he was eleeted prothonotary, clerk of courts, ete., and served another term of three years. Meanwhile he read law under the instrue- tions of Hon. A. H. Coffroth, and on Septem- ber 15, 1857, was admitted to praetiee in the eourts of Somerset county.
In April, 1861, his oldest son, John O. Kim- mel, Jr., then but nineteen years of age, en- listed in Company A, Tenth Regiment Penn- sylvania reserves. Ile was a gallant soldier, but with many other brave men, fell with his face to the foe during the battle of Fred- erieksburg, Va., December 13, 1862.
Hon. Chauncey Forward Black, a son of Judge Jeremiah S. Blaek, was born in Som- erset borough, Somerset county, Pennsylva- nia, November 24, 1839. His literary studies were completed in the Monongolia acad- emy and Jefferson college. He studied law in his father's offiee, and was admitted to
the bar of Somerset county, April 23, 1861. On January 16, 1883, he was inaugurated lieutenant governor of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Henry Black, a son of Judge Jeremiah S. Black, was born in Somerset, Pa. Hle read law in the office of his father and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1868.
Milton J. Pritts was born four miles east of the town of Somerset, in Somerset county, Pa., on September 12, 1857. His education was acquired in the public schools, the Som- erset academy and Washington and Jefferson eollege at Washington, Pa. Subsequently he read law in the office of Hon. William II. Koontz, and on August 23, 1881, was admit- ted to the Somerset county bar. IIe is the present well-known cashier of the Somerset County bank.
John R. Scott was born at New Centreville, Glade P. O., Somerset county, Pa., June 3, 1853. Studied in the common schools and at Hopedale, Ohio. Ile read law in the office of Hon. William II. Koontz and was admit- ted to the bar at Somerset April 4, 1876. He was elected distriet attorney in November, 1877, and served the term of three years. He has actively and successfully practiced his profession at Somerset since his admis- sion to the bar.
Joseph Levy was born at Ursina, Somer- set county, Pa., March 27, 1873, and is the son of Abram S. Levy and Mary E. Fleming, his wife. He attended the public sehools at Ursina, and came to Somerset July 14, 1890, as clerk in the register's and recorder's of- fice, which position he held for four years. Ile served in Company D of the Tenth Regi- ment Volunteer Infantry, during the Span- ish-American war, and its subsequent eam- paign in the Philippines, returning home with the regiment in the fall of 1899. He read law with F. W. Biesecker and was ad- mitted to the bar at Somerset May 1, 1900, and opened a law office at Windber, in this
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county, in the fall of the same year. He re- turned to Somerset January 1, 1903, and has continued here in practice since that time.
John Calvin Lowry is the eldest son of Samuel Lowry, Esq., of Salisbury, Somerset county, Pa., where he was born and reared. After being a pupil and teacher in the schools of Somerset county he taught in both Garrett and Allegheny counties, Maryland. He stud- ied law in Cumberland, Md., in the office of William M. Price, and was there admit- ted to praetiee in 1884. In 1885 he was ad- mitted here and has since been in continuous praetiee. In 1891 he was married to Ada Tis- sue, the eldest daughter of A. N. Tissue of Confluenee, Pa.
Albert L. G. Hay, the eldest son of William H. Hay, and Harriet Keim, his wife, was born in Elk Lick township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, August 8, 1866. He attended and taught in the public schools of his home district. He was a student and was gradu- ated at Franklin and Marshall college at Laneaster, in 1888. He studied law with his unele, Valentine Hay, Esq., and was admitted to the bar at Somerset Sept. 26, 1892. IIe formed a law partnership with Chas. W. Walk- er, Esq., in 1893, that continued until 1897. In the latter year he went into partnership with his unele, Val. Hay, Esq., and this part- nership still continues as one of the leading firms in practice at this bar. From 1897 to 1900 he was county solieitor, and is the pres- ent incumbent of that office. He is vice-presi- dent and director of the Farmers' National bank of Somerset, and a director of the In- ternational Trust company of Pittsburgh, Pa. On February 3, 1898, he was married to Em- ma, daughter of Judge and Mrs. William J. Baer.
Aaron C. Holbert was born at Union- town, Pa., and edueated in the publie schools, and at George's Creek academy in Fayette eounty. He commenced teaching sehool in his native county at the age of fifteen years. He also taught in Greene eoun-
ty, Pa. In 1869 he went to the state of Missouri, remaining there five years, teaeli- ing in various counties. IIe returned to Pennsylvania late in 1874; resumed teaching in Fayette county, and in the fall of 1876 came to Somerfield, Somerset county, as prin- cipal of the schools at that plaee. He was prineipal of the borough schools at Conflu- ence in this county, the following year, and while there married Henrietta Cummins, his wife. He returned to Fayette in 1878 as principal of the George's Creek academy; and, soon afterwards, was again cleeted prin- eipal of the Confluence schools. In 1882 he became principal of the schools of Somerset borough, and held that position for four ycars. At the end of that time he read law with Messrs. Coffroth and Ruppel, was ad- mitted to the Somerset bar in 1887, and sinee then has been actively engaged in the prac- tice of his profession. He was county soliei- tor for a term, and has been admitted to the bar in various county, appellate, and federal courts. Among the notable trials in which he was eoneerned may be named that of the Commonwealth vs. Samuel Peter Meyers for the murder of Michael Kearney and John Lenhart, and that of Common- wealth vs. Harry Weller, indicted for murder.
John Albert Berkey was born near the village of Bakersville. In youth he was a pupil and teacher in the public schools of the eounty ; attended and graduated at the State Normal, at California, Pa., and is now one of the trustees of that institute. He was principal of the schools of the borough of Somerset for two years, and immediately af- terwards read law with Messrs. Coffroth and Ruppel. He was admitted to the bar in 1889, and was elected distriet attorney in 1892. Mr. Berkey has been chairman of the Repub- liean County Committee several times, and is a prominent figure in politics. He reeeived his eounty nomination for Congress at the last Republiean primary eleetion. He is very
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active in his professional and business affairs, and has been highly successful in the prae- tiee of the law.
Charles W. Walker was born in Summit township, Somerset county, Pa., near the town of Meyersdale, November 5, 1868, the son of Silas and Eliza Walker. He taught two terms in the publie schools of Summit township during the winters of 1884-85 and 1885-86 ; and entered Pennsylvania college, at Gettysburg, in 1887, and graduated there- from in 1891 with the degree of A. B. The degree of A. M. was conferred upon him by his alma mater in 1894. Immediately upon his graduation, he began the study of law in the office of Judge William J. Baer, and was admitted to the bar at Somerset Septem- ber 19, 1893. He then formed a partnership with A. L. G. Hay, Esq., which continued until April 1, 1897. He has been successfully practieing law at Somerset ever since his admission to the bar, and has been for three years solieitor of the borough of Somerset. On October 6, 1897, he was married to Susan C., daughter of Captain and Mrs. Wm. M. Sehrock of Somerset.
Isaac Hugus was born near the town of Somerset February 6, 1814. IIe was edu- eated in the common sehools, and read law under Samuel Gaither, Esq. He was admitted to the bar at Somerset in 1843. In 1843 he was appointed deputy attorney general, and held that office for five and one-half years. In 1848 he was elected by the Democratie party to the state senate from the district composed of Westmoreland and Somerset counties. He also was elected and served as burgess of the borough of Somerset for a number of terms. In 1862 he was appointed, by Governor Curtin, commissioner of draft, for Somerset eounty; and proved a very efficient officer in that capacity. Except for several years spent in Ohio and Texas, all of his life was passed at Somerset in prac- tiee of the law. Somewhat brusque and eeeentrie in manner, he was a man of de-
.cided opinion, of good memory, and of natural ability.
Daniel Weyand was born in Somerset county, Pa. His family kept the historic White Horse Tavern at the Bedford Pike on the top of the Allegheny mountains in this county ; and he was managing that place as a boy. Afterwards he came to Berlin, and taught in the public schools in that borongh. He then moved to the town of Somerset ; and purchased the Somerset Whig, a Democratic paper, which he published for a number of years. Ile studied law under Chauncey For- ward and Joshua F. Cox, and was admitted to the bar at Somerset in 1841. He practiced law here for many years, and dealt consider- ably in real estate. Large quantities of un- seated lands are still owned by his estate. At one time he owned and operated the Shade Furnace, for the manufacture of iron, in Shade township, Somerset county, Pa. He continued the praetiee of the law at Somerset until his death.
John D. Roddy was born in Addison town- ship, Somerset county, Pa. Ile read law with Joshua F. Cox, and was admitted to the bar at Somerset in 1847. Ile afterwards went into partnership with Daniel Weyand, under the name of Weyand & Roddy. That part- nership lasted for a number of years. He married the danghter of Isaac Ankeny of Somerset. He acted as the administrator of the estates of Isaae Ankeny and of Joshua F. Cox. Afterwards he moved to Pittsburgh, and remained in the practice of law there until the time of his death at that place about ten years ago.
James L. Pugh was born August 14, 1844, in Somerset township. Somerset county. Pa .. about seven miles east of the town of Somer- set on a farm in what is known as Sheeps Ridge.
He attended the common and normal schools of the county, and commenced teach- ing in the common schools at the age of fourteen years. He enlisted in the Union
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army, Company D, One Hundred and Thirty- third Pennsylvania Volunteers in 1862, when he was seventeen years and nine months old; and was engaged in a number of the hardest fought battles of the war, including Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, being wounded in the former battle three times. At the expiration of his first enlistment, he re- enlisted in the Two Hundred and Fourth Reg- iment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served until his honorable discharge at the end of the war. He continued to teach school after the close of the war; attended the state normal sehool at Millersville, Pa .; was ap- pointed county superintendent by state superintendent Wickersham on December 15, 1870, filled the position for two years, and then read law. He entered the law de- partment of the university of Michigan, and graduated in 1874; returned to Somerset and was admitted to the bar on May 4, 1874. He was elected district attorney in 1875, and held the office for the three-year term. He was a member of the state house of represen- tatives of Pennsylvania during the sessions of 1887 and 1889, and made a good record as a legislator. Upon the completion of his term in the legislature he resumed the prac- tice of the law and since that time he has devoted himself assiduously to the same, and enjoys a large and Incrative praetice, espe- cially in the Orphans' court and commercial law branches of the business. He is a mem- ber of the State Bar Association and has always taken a great interest in its affairs; he is reporter for the district reports for Somerset county ; studious in his habits; and has aceumulated one of the finest private libraries in the county. Many rare and cost- ly books are to be found in his collection of over twenty-five hundred volumes.
Samuel U. Trent was born in Somerset eounty February 18, 1844. He attended and taught in publie schools of Somerset eounty and was principal of the Somerset borough schools. He had an ease and affability of
manner, and pleasing appearance, that made him suceessful and popular, both as a teacher and subsequently as an attorney. He attend- ed the Millersville and Indiana state normal schools graduating from the latter institu- tion. Later he continued his studies at Cor- nell university where he graduated and took a post graduate course. He studied law with Ilon. William H. Koontz, and was admitted to the bar at Somerset in 1878. The follow- ing two years he was principal of the publie schools of Peoria, Ill. Returning in 1880 he took a leading part in Somerset county polities in the presidential campaign that resulted in the election of General Garfield. His politieal speeches made with a fluency of language and elearness and beauty of dic- tion from that time insured him a prominent position. He was elected prothonotary and clerk of the courts, the following year. Af- ter retirement from that office at the end of his term, he continued the practice of the law at Somerset until he removed to Pitts- burgh. He attained a high degree of success in his profession in the latter city, and was for a number of years associated with James S. Young, Esq., in a law partnership there. He died in 1901 and was buried at Somerset.
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